The 2025 Scouting Combine is here!
NFL coaches, scouts, personnel and over 300 draft prospects have descended upon Indianapolis, Indiana, for the league's annual event.
But before any drills or player interviews get underway, select general managers and head coaches spoke to the media on Tuesday, including Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Spytek.
Read through for the top quotes from both of their press conferences at the NFL Combine.
Head Coach Pete Carroll
On his first month as Raiders head coach:
"It's a really frantic pace to get everything going. Really, hiring the staff is of great demand, getting to know Johnny [John Spytek] and getting things going with him, and all of the stuff for the organization. It's just been a blur, really. It's been fun as can be, getting excited about putting the team together and getting to know players. A bunch of players are in the building. All of that just has been an ongoing process, this really kind of slows down getting here, to tell you the truth, so it's been really fun though."
On the importance of coming to the Combine:
"There's so much interaction. It's a chance for me with our coaches - I've met for all morning, until we got in the car to get over here, with my defensive staff. We're evaluating players at the same time, learning about each other and how we see guys and how we interview them and all of that, putting together this class. Remember, we're also in the midst of free agency with our own players and the players that we might have a chance to attract. So all of that is just keeping us all going. It's nonstop. It's been great."
On hiring a coaching staff that has lots of experience at the collegiate level:
"The guys coming out of college football have a connection with the players, and not just the ones on their own teams, but the players that they've been playing against, the guys they've seen through recruiting. They've known these kids that are playing for years and in this draft in particular, and as it affected us when we started in Seattle, we really hit it in the middle to lower round picks because I think we had better intel than maybe guys that hadn't had that opportunity to connect to college. So, it's important to me to try to mix that. If you notice, we've been able to do that some. So, it's a real benefit."
On offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's Ohio State offense:
"Amazing offense. 2,000-yard rushers, 2,000-yard receivers, National Championship and the whole thing. It was an incredible viewing throughout the season. I was watching them all year long, and so I didn't know that we would get a chance to get it done because I didn't know what he was thinking. But I've been a fan of his for a long time. We met way back in the Oregon days when we went against him at SC [University of Southern California] and all that. And at the time when he was setting the pace of the game in a whole different level, it was a really fun relationship. Following that, he used to come see us in Seattle. So, we've had a long-time friendship."
On retaining defensive coordinator Patrick Graham:
"In putting the staff together, I really wanted to see if I could bring some people that had been with me that I could have background with, that could help me share the ideas and the concepts of what we were going to present. I wanted to get guys that had never been with me before, so they had to learn it with us for a couple reasons. I wanted the guys that had been with me to help have to teach those guys and to share with them. And then the third element of it was to get some guys that had been in the program so that they could give us an advantage, a leg up on the continuity that's necessary. Knowing the players, knowing the system, knowing the division, all of that. So, there was really three elements of putting it together. Patrick and Robbie Leonard were right at the top of the list to get that done. It's been done. It's working out quite well."
General Manager John Spytek
On the quarterback position:
"I mean, not to be kind of the cliché here, but any avenue where we can find a quarterback we're going to explore. So obviously there's free agents. We have some guys in the building that we want to give a chance to compete. And working with Coach [Pete Carroll] and with Chip [Kelly] and Oly [Greg Olson] and the whole offensive staff, we're just going to try to find as many guys as we can to load that room up and have a great competition there."
On this year's running back draft class:
"I think there's a lot of really good players at that position, yeah. And I think it's a really critical position as well. I mean, you saw what the Eagles did this year, right? I mean, Saquon [Barkley] is a different animal, but the emphasis on the run game and the physicality that comes with it. And for running backs, I mean, I think people get really caught up on speed, which is great. If you can find Chris Johnson that runs 4.28 or whatever he ran, and nobody can catch him, awesome. But to me, it's more about the guys that have great instincts, great vision, that are hard to get on the ground. If they can run 4.3s, even better, but I've seen a lot of great ones that run the 4.5s and 4.6s that are just hard to tackle and that they set the tone for the team. So we're looking for that."
On re-signing S Isaiah Pola-Mao:
"Isaiah was a guy that given an opportunity last year when Marcus [Epps] got hurt, really stepped up and played well. And I think you've got to give a lot of respect to a young kid that's undrafted and has a chance to get thrust in the starting lineup, and next thing you know, he's playing at a good level. And we noticed it in Tampa, and talking to the coaches, PG [Patrick Graham] that was here, thought he was critical. I spent some time talking to a couple of the other players in the locker room, and they had a lot of really positive things to say about him. And I think for Isaiah and for the Raiders, it made a lot of sense to do this deal, and hopefully this is just a starting point for him."
On his and Carroll's vision of what a Raiders team looks like:
"I would be remiss if I didn't start with compete. That's been his central thing. But I think we're going to have a lot of positive energy. The guys that love to compete and play with passion are going to have a chance at our place. And the guys that maybe don't have that love of the game, they like it, it's a means to an end, there probably won't be as many places or spaces for them at our place. I think we want to set the tone with our film. When people watch a week or two out for our games coming, like they want to know like this is going to be a battle, this is going to be physical, this is going to be old school football, and are we made for this? I mean, that's what ultimately this game comes down to. I think, like am I willing to play harder longer than the guy lining up across from, the team lining up across from me? And if you're not, then I want to be the space that that's where the Raiders live in, and that's served me well over my career."
On his draft philosophy:
"I think we're going to make the best decision for the Raiders. And yes, we're not going to pass on elite talent because we maybe have a couple guys at that spot, but we're certainly not going to just force picks because we need a player, whether the public thinks that or we think that. I've been a part of doing that before. I've had a chance to be around guys like Ron Wolf in my career, like they have all told me, my experience has told me you do that, you just draft for need, you will draft guys way too early and you'll regret it and you'll watch other guys that you may have wished you took in a different position have great careers, and you'll be like, 'If I just would have done that.' So to me, it's more about team building. What's best for the Raiders? How can we make this work? It's not about collecting talent, and it's not about just filling a roster out either."
On the team's biggest roster needs right now:
"We won four games last year, and we've got to be realistic with that. We've got a lot of really good young players, I think. We've got some good veteran players, and we've just got to add quality humans and competitors to this roster wherever we can. And to me that's the biggest thing is like some guys that will do the harder thing longer than the person across from them, and we'll be in a good spot."
For more content from the 2025 Combine, visit raiders.com/combine.
With the Raiders holding the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, take a look at some of the best photos of Raiders legend Tim Brown, who was selected at No. 6 overall in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Silver and Black.
Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during a home game against the San Diego Chargers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, September 4, 1988, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the San Diego Chargers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, September 4, 1988, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Houston Oilers at Houston Astrodome, Sunday, September 11, 1988, in Houston, Texas Stadium.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, September 18, 1988, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Sunday, October 16, 1988, in Kansas City, Mo.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Buffalo Bills at Rich Stadium, Sunday, December 11, 1988, in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, December 18, 1988, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) on the sidelines during the regular season home game against the Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, September 30, 1990, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, November 11, 1990, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, December 16, 1990, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, December 8, 1991, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, December 22, 1991. in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, December 22, 1991, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the post season AFC Wild Card game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Saturday, December 28, 1991, in Kansas City, Mo.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium, Sunday, September 13, 1992, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, September 5, 1993, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, December 12, 1993, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the post season home AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, January 9, 1994, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Miami Dolphins at Joe Robbie Stadium, Sunday, October 16, 1994, in Miami, Fla.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Houston Oilers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, October 30, 1994, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, November 20, 1994, in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Oakland Raiders during the preseason home game against the St. Louis Rams at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Saturday, August 12, 1995, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Jeff Hostetler (15) and wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Seattle Seahawks at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 8, 1995, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Seattle Seahawks at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 8, 1995, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 19, 1995, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 24, 1995, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the San Diego Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, September 22, 1996, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houlihans Stadium, Sunday, November 10, 1996, in Tampa, Fla.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) kneeling on the sidelines during the regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks at The Kingdome, Sunday, November 24, 1996, in Seattle, Wash.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Seattle Seahawks at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 22, 1996, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the St. Louis Rams at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, September 28, 1997, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) is introduced onto the field before the regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 9, 1997, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, November 30, 1997, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, September 13 1998, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, September 13 1998, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 25, 1998, in Oakland, Calif.
Los Angeles Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park, Sunday, November 13, 1988, in San Francisco, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium, Sunday, December 20, 1998, in San Diego, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium, Sunday, December 26, 1999, in San Diego, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Sunday, January 2, 2000, in Kansas City, Mo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the San Fransisco 49ers at 3Com Park at Candlestick Point, Sunday, October 8, 2000, in San Fransisco, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Monday, November 13, 2000, in Denver, Colo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Atlanta Falcons at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, November 26, 2000, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the postseason home AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, January 14, 2001, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Sunday, September 9, 2001, in Kansas City, Mo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Sunday, September 9, 2001, in Kansas City, Mo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the San Diego Chargers at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, November 18, 2001, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, December 9, 2001, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) warming up before the preseason home game against the San Francisco 49ers at Network Associates Coliseum, Saturday, August 24, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, Sunday, September 15, 2002, in Pittsburgh Pa.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, November 3, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) warming up before the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High, Monday, November 11, 2002, in Denver, Colo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) warming up before the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High, Monday, November 11, 2002, in Denver, Colo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High, Monday, November 11, 2002, in Denver, Colo.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the New England Patriots at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, November 17, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium, Sunday, November 24, 2002, in Tempe, Ariz.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the New York Jets at Network Associates Coliseum, Monday, December 2, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the New York Jets at Network Associates Coliseum, Monday, December 2, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) warming up before the regular season away game against the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium, Sunday, December 15, 2002, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season away game against the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium, Sunday, December 15, 2002, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Network Associates Coliseum, Saturday, December 28, 2002, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Rice (80) and wide receiver Tim Brown (81) with broadcasterJim Nantz during the trophy presentation after the AFC Championship postseason home game against the Tennessee Titans at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, January 19, 2003, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, November 30, 2003, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown (81) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos at Network Associates Coliseum, Sunday, November 30, 2003, in Oakland, Calif.
